Any chance the new cruise line will go to Australia?

[FSU Girl]

I'd love for them to sail around Australia. Whenever I get over there I'd love to be able to see a lot in a short amount of time since it's so far to travel to.

 

[mmmears]

There's plenty to see in New Zealand as well. Our Celebrity cruise started in Sydney then went south around New Zealand and ended up in Auckland.

I've been looking at that cruise online (and Princess, too) because it's something we are considering and I honestly don't think DCL will get there any time soon.

As for the West Coast to Australia/NZ cruises, I know someone who did one on Princess and loved it. They stopped at so many beautiful islands along the way. But it was a 26 day cruise, and I don't see Disney trying anything like that.

 

[disneyholic family]

on the Magic, this past summer, we had on board with us one of the DCL suits who works on itineraries..
there were a few on board because the magic visited a new port on our cruise..
anyway, i asked him about australia and he claimed that DCL felt the market was already saturated...
but he might just have been telling a little white lie...
he also said no to asia, but who knows...
they might just be saying that for public consumption and planning something completely different to surprise us...

 

[Marc D]

on the Magic, this past summer, we had on board with us one of the DCL suits who works on itineraries..
there were a few on board because the magic visited a new port on our cruise..
anyway, i asked him about australia and he claimed that DCL felt the market was already saturated...
but he might just have been telling a little white lie...
he also said no to asia, but who knows...
they might just be saying that for public consumption and planning something completely different to surprise us...

Maybe, but seasoned cruisers wishes for something different or exotic are not always lined up with a major corporation’s bottom line. They probably will not go to Australia/NZ because the local market is not enough to support a luxury ship for an entire season and the flight costs will prohibit most outside travellers to go there, either at the end of a one-way cruise or a closed-loop.

As for Asia, the same reasoning applies for foreign guests and the local market, while very much populous enough, is very particular about what it likes. A few companies, notably NCL, tried and failed and had to scale back their presence. The type of service enjoyed over there is different and varies from country to country. To be profitable, a ship would need to cater to a specific population and exclude most foreign guests from their marketing campaigns. The absence of a casino would not help.

Those are the same reasons why Tokyo, Shanghai and HK Disneyland are mainly visited by local guests and do not look to foreign guests to boost their attendance. If a few Disney enthusiasts come every year, fine, but they do not rely on them to make a profit.

Even California had a distance problem in the eyes of WD. The reasoning behind the Florida project still applies today. The longer the way there, the less people will come. At some point, it becomes too far to make enough money.

 

[smacmillan83]

RCCL have long repositioning cruises from Hawaii to Sydney which are about 21 days.

The cruising season in Australia is becoming more and more popular, now the large RCCL ships like Ovation of the Seas are based in Sydney during our summer and sail to the South Pacific and New Zealand. Sydney is about to invest in a 3rd cruise terminal to meet the demand. Not to mention that Brisbane and Melbourne are also cruising ports.

Having recently taken a HAL cruise from Singapore to Hong Kong, the ships passengers were not Asian but mostly made up of passengers from the UK, USA and Australia. Some lines have itineraries which sail from HK via Japan and on to Vancouver back for the Alaska season.

It will be interesting to see what routes the ships eventually take, there are plenty of opportunities for unique sailings in this region but as previous posters have stated, this may not appeal to DCLs bottom line.

 

[disneyholic family]

i should have added that while he was willing to say 'no' regarding australia and asia, he wouldn't say where they were putting the new ships.
He wouldn't even say yes or no to new york, balitimore, miami, etc.
And i'm pretty sure i asked him about south america and similarly didn't get any response, positive or negative.
Only when i asked about australia and asia was he willing to give a definitive "no".

.

 

[Husker Mike]

According to the DisneyCruiseLineBlog, Disney is surveying customers about new destinations, primarily in the eastern Pacific and Indian Oceans.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1207490024981311488

 

[mmmears]

I'm glad they are at least thinking about it. I'm still not expecting them to do it, but I'd definitely consider booking if they did. Princess seems to do well in those markets (as does Celebrity and Viking) but from what I have heard from people who sailed there with them the average age on those ships is beyond retirement. DCL would have to attract a slightly different crowd I would think (and I say that even though I still sail DCL without having a small child anymore).

 

[NancyIL]

Me being very naive... could they do a Hawaii to Australia?

That would be a *very* long haul. Over 4300 nautical miles. At top speed on a direct path the transit is nearly 8 days long.

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity do Transpacific cruises between Hawaii and Australia in the spring and fall - before and after the Alaska cruise season: https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruises/?departureCode_SYD=true&destinationRegionCode_TPACI=true
https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruises/?departureCode_HNL=true

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity do Transpacific cruises between Hawaii and Australia in the spring and fall - before and after the Alaska cruise season: https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruises/?departureCode_SYD=true&destinationRegionCode_TPACI=true

And it's an 18 night cruise. For a fleet of currently 4 and projected 7 that's a lot of capital invested in a low intensity cruise

 

[NancyIL]

And it's an 18 night cruise. For a fleet of currently 4 and projected 7 that's a lot of capital invested in a low intensity cruise

I doubt Disney would do it - but that's how cruise lines reposition their ships.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

I doubt Disney would do it - but that's how cruise lines reposition their ships.

Which is the entire point

 

[Marc D]

DCL would have to attract a slightly different crowd I would think (and I say that even though I still sail DCL without having a small child anymore).

Not only a different crowd, but accept to sail with a lot less paying passengers onboard. When you compare stateroom designs on other lines, the difference is striking. Even the priciest suites on the latest ships only have room for two guests. In the last year, we sailed in a spa suite on NCL Bliss and a Celebrity suite on Silhouette. The first one had no option for a third guest. They had to move heavy furniture in the second to allow our son to use the couch as a bed.

Retired couples rarely sail in parties larger than two, while a lot of staterooms on DCL cruises are filled with four or even five paying guests. DCL has no incentive to offer “3rd or 4th guests sail free” promotions but those are frequently offered on other lines. Offering cruises that attract older guests because of cost (of the cruise or the flights), duration, distance or number of sea days would have a major impact on DCL’s bottom line.

For PC or TA cruises, they have no choice because they need to reposition, but the destination of the ships after the repo still attracts their target audience, U.S., U.K. and Canadian families. IMHO, Australia or Asia-based cruises would not.

 

[kayochan]

I found a DCL business plan dated 2015 online that explores Asian itineraries. It had a map with routes from Yokohama, Japan - Okinawa, Japan - Shanghai, China - Juju Island, South Korea - Busan, South Korea - Osaka, Japan.

If this is a possibility, then I am thinking a new ship in the West Coast outfitted with enclosed viewing decks for its Alaskan itineraries, new Asian themed quick service food stations (like noodles/ramen, dumplings, etc) under the banners of their Asian Disney characters (Mulan - Chinese and Big Hero 6 - Japanese). The plan also identifies young adults (childless 21-34) as secondary target customers (primary being children 0 - 17 and their families). Young adult Japanese love Disney and Disneyland so a ship going to Japan would make sense to focus on them as well.

This aligns with a credible rumor that the 1820 society will get its own dedicated space on the new ships which may add focus to an on older demographic (18+) in contrast to its current primary target demographic (0-17). Hopefully this would also mean additional activities and dedicated spaces for young adults so we can continue to entice our college aged and young adult kids to travel with us on DCL!

I have also heard rumors of Australian itineraries from staff so I can see Mexico, west coast, and Alaska during school months and Asia Pacific/Australia during the summer months.

Of course this is all conjectures based on internet stuff and rumors from DCL staff but won’t that big the most amazing itineraries!

 

[Dreams&wishes]

I found a DCL business plan dated 2015 online that explores Asian itineraries. It had a map with routes from Yokohama, Japan - Okinawa, Japan - Shanghai, China - Juju Island, South Korea - Busan, South Korea - Osaka, Japan.

If this is a possibility, then I am thinking a new ship in the West Coast outfitted with enclosed viewing decks for its Alaskan itineraries, new Asian themed quick service food stations (like noodles/ramen, dumplings, etc) under the banners of their Asian Disney characters (Mulan - Chinese and Big Hero 6 - Japanese). The plan also identifies young adults (childless 21-34) as secondary target customers (primary being children 0 - 17 and their families). Young adult Japanese love Disney and Disneyland so a ship going to Japan would make sense to focus on them as well.

This aligns with a credible rumor that the 1820 society will get its own dedicated space on the new ships which may add focus to an on older demographic (18+) in contrast to its current primary target demographic (0-17). Hopefully this would also mean additional activities and dedicated spaces for young adults so we can continue to entice our college aged and young adult kids to travel with us on DCL!

I have also heard rumors of Australian itineraries from staff so I can see Mexico, west coast, and Alaska during school months and Asia Pacific/Australia during the summer months.

Of course this is all conjectures based on internet stuff and rumors from DCL staff but won’t that big the most amazing itineraries!

Although I'm actually 34, and obviously not wanting to generalise. But I do get a bit concerned if they intend to fill up the ship with the 21/34 group, especially the 21/26 without parents, which are generally are more of a party/drinking group...

 

[kayochan]

Although I'm actually 34, and obviously not wanting to generalise. But I do get a bit concerned if they intend to fill up the ship with the 21/34 group, especially the 21/26 without parents, which are generally are more of a party/drinking group...

I think most people who want to party will stick with the booze cruise with other lines.

The demographic I mentioned are for the Asian markets and the young Japanese cruisers who would opt to go with DCL rather than another line are there for Mickey. If you have been to Tokyo Disneyland, you will see very enthusiastic young adults with Mickey ears on there head very excited just to soak up the Disney atmosphere.

 

[mmmears]

I have also heard rumors of Australian itineraries from staff so I can see Mexico, west coast, and Alaska during school months and Asia Pacific/Australia during the summer months.

Of course this is all conjectures based on internet stuff and rumors from DCL staff but won’t that big the most amazing itineraries!

They can't do Alaska when school is in session - it's a summer destination. And they do well there, so I can't see them leaving. I'd love to see Far East cruises, but I don't think it could work this way. Plus, Australia would be a much better winter destination. So, Australia in the winter, then some Mexico in the shoulder seasons with Alaska in the summer could work, but I don't have high hopes that they will be venturing out that far in the near future.

 

[YoDisney]

According to the DisneyCruiseLineBlog, Disney is surveying customers about new destinations, primarily in the eastern Pacific and Indian Oceans. View attachment 459465

https://twitter.com/x/status/1207490024981311488

Yup, i took this survey recently. i actually have no interest for DCL to sail most of Asia except Japan.

 

[STH Cruising]

In the fall of 2018 one of the Captains spoke about one of the ships doing a “world cruise”. Whether this was his aspiration or a DCL business plan, I do not know. The concept is that the Wonder would stay mostly in the Pacific after the Alaska season, and move around to various home ports, doing a short season in each. This could include parts of Asia, South America, Hawaii, and Pacific Islands. South America could end up on the Atlantic side as well, where there are many Disney/DCL fans, and then transit the Panama Canal back to San Diego in the spring.

Clearly, the Bahamas and Caribbean are a clear focus, and a new Bahama private island location. Port Canaveral can home port 3 ships, and a Miami 2. That accounts for the Dream and Fantasy, plus the three new ships. On the Atlantic side, DCL has commitments to home ports ships for parts of the year in New York City, Galveston and New Orleans, which could handle the non-summer for another ship. That leaves the Wonder in Alaska for the summer and available for unexplored markets.

I would like to believe that DCL can expand itineraries with 7 ships. I know they are conservative and will proceed cautiousl.

 

[Karin1984]

I wonder who DCL's main target group is for the European cruises, Europeans or Americans. For the East coast of the US Europe is not as far as Australia is to the West coast of the US. With travelling there, extra days to get there on time, getting accustomed to the time difference etc. it will not be that appealing to US guests with children who go to school. The summer holidays in the US is winter in Australia. Then the only time that makes sense is the Christmas period. But it doesn't make sense a ship to the other side of the world for two weeks, and two repositioning cruises.

If DCL is going to Australia it will have to be for a longer period and the main target group would have to be Australia/New Zealand and perhaps South East Asia, which will costs a lot of marketing efforts to fill all the cruises.